'Devil in the detail' over PM's promise to pay for storm damage

The Prime Minister visited Cornwall yesterday to hear for himself the scale of damage from storms and flooding, and to say the tab will be picked up by the government, however, as usual, the devil is in the detail.

The damage bill to date is £21 million, and could easily rise if the adverse weather continues.

Cllr Andrew Wallis says that during the visit, the Prime Minister ‘offered’ help with the repair bill, particularly via the Bellwin Scheme.

The current threshold for claims will be lowered, and in Cornwall’s case, instead of the 85 per cent maximum payout, it will be 100 per cent.

Cllr Wallis said: "This I very much welcome as without the help to carry out the repairs, the money would have to be found via Cornwall Council’s own budget. And we all know that is under real pressure.

"Though my understanding of the offer is that it is only for the emergency repairs and not the full repairs. That means Cornwall Council could still have to find at least £17m to repair the damage fully. As always, the devil is in the detail."

Comments (1)

Cornwall Council needs the money for all repairs not just emergency repairs, it has already been severly penalised by cuts in government funding. It is all very well the government trying to advertise that Cornwall is still open for business but this is little help if the infrastructure cannot cope, we have a railway line that needs to be re-routed and ongoing road repairs/potholes that need to be addressed. In addition to which flood defences need to be addressed.
It is about time the government put its own country in order before trying to make themselves 'look good' giving billions abroad.

Cornwall Council needs the money for all repairs not just emergency repairs, it has already been severly penalised by cuts in government funding. It is all very well the government trying to advertise that Cornwall is still open for business but this is little help if the infrastructure cannot cope, we have a railway line that needs to be re-routed and ongoing road repairs/potholes that need to be addressed. In addition to which flood defences need to be addressed.
It is about time the government put its own country in order before trying to make themselves 'look good' giving billions abroad.Gillian R.Z. Martin